Jan 20 (Island) Int'l market conditions are anticipated to generate extremely lucrative opportunities for SL�s sustainable oil producers through the first half of 2020 (1H2020). According to the most recent data obtained by the Planters� Association of Ceylon (PA), these favourable conditions are likely to arise from of a combination of weaker production in Malaysia and Indonesia, a continuing rally in global export prices, as well as national and consumer-level boycotts against world�s top two producers taking hold. more..

Jan 20 (SLN) The coastal and marine environment conservation activities conducted by the SL Navy have started to deliver favorable returns as of now. As an eloquent testimony to this fact, several sea turtle eggs have been found at the Galle Face beach today (18), during a beach cleaning inspection visit by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva. Since this has been a rare sight at the Galle Face beach in the densely populated city, the naval personnel promptly encircled the area, more..

Jan 20 (FT) Govt is to fully implement Strategic Development Projects Act (SPDA) with immediate effect, the use of which was restricted under the previous Govt, in a bid to attract int'l investors. Cabinet approval was given last week to a proposal by Prez Rajapaksa for the immediate and full implementation of the SPDA together with the Board of Investment Act, Urban Development Authority Act and other related laws more..

Jan 20 (Island) Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) will collect the voice samples of the member of the Coimbatore module of the terrorist outfit Islamic State (IS), who allegedly knew people involved in the Easter Sunday bombings in SL last year. The voice samples of Coimbatore native Mohammed Azarudeen would be collected to confirm whether he was propagating IS ideology among youths in TN and Kerala. The agency filed a petition at the NIA Court here which permitted it to collect more..

Jan 20 (FT) A motion to confirm MPs to serve as members of the Parliamentary Committee of Selection, which in turn nominates members to other important parliamentary committees such as CoPE and the COPA, will be presented to the House tomorrow. Committee is chaired by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and consists of 17 members including leaders of the political parties or their nominees to be nominated by Parliament to serve in the current Session. Govt has nominated 9 members more..

Jan 20 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa says he is prepared to fight as a progressive opposition until the promises given to the people at the Prez Election. He mentioned expressed these views at a public rally held in Biyagama. He said: ��There is no need for talks anymore. On Feb 4th, the Independence Day, both govt and the Opposition should get together and tear apart these MCC, ACSA, SOFA agreements. more..

Jan 20 (FT) Colombo High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi on Thursday ordered to make submissions on 2 March on the case against former Senior DIG Western Province Anura Senanayake who is charged with concealing evidence of the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen. Considering the information made available to the court that the former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake has been sick and unable to attend court, the judge ordered that the witness lists of both sides more..

Jan 20 (TM) The passage of SL�s first-ever Data Protection Bill, which has been eagerly awaited by the information and communication technology (ICT) industry and business, will be delayed significantly, despite encouraging progress made over the past year. The bill is currently pending certification from the Attorney General (AG) on its constitutionality. Data Protection Drafting Committee Chair Jayantha Fernando said that Secretary to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology more..

Jan 20 (Island) One-time defence advisor retired Senior DIG Merril Gunaratne has questioned the conduct of ousted head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena over the latter�s responsibility as regards the intelligence failure leading to the Easter Sunday attacks. Testifying before the PCoI on Friday, Gunaratne, who had served the state intelligence apparatus for about 15 years, pointed out more..

Jan 20 (Island) Over 100,000 plastic water bottles had been left behind by those who climbed Sri Pada from December 11 to date, officials attached to overseeing the operations at the Sri Pada season said. "We have collected over 100 000 plastic water bottles. Some have dropped them on the way, but others have deposited them in designated areas," W. Hemantha, officer in charge of an office established at Nallatanniya, Sri Pada by the Maskeliya local council said. more..

Jan 20 (TOI) Eleven construction workers, who were held by their contractor at Colombo, returned to Odisha on Sunday in two phases. Four of them had reached Odisha on Jan 11 and the rest arrived at Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The 11 people had left for Sri Lanka on November 5 last year through two local agents. They alleged that the agents had taken Rs 60,000 from each of them. �The agent had promised us that the construction company in Sri Lanka will pay Rs 30,000 per month to each of us. more..

Jan 20 (Island) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed surprise at the UNP�s sudden aversion to the MCC pact. He said that Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa, who was the Deputy Leader of the UNP and key member of the UNP Cabinet, before the Prez election, had been silent on the MCC pact promoted by the former govt. "We hear the newly appointed Opposition Leader and other MPs of the UNP making frequent references more..

Jan 20 (Island) Two more phone recordings of MP Ranjan Ramanayake have been released during the last two days. They contain conversations he had with MP Hirunika Premachandra and a foreign correspondent. In the conversation Premachandra had with Ramanayake, she calls former Prez Sirisena a gamarala (a farmer) Sirisena blocked Premachandra from attending an interview with a TV station, she says. "Oh, then the farmer must have gotten insanely angry," Ranjan responds more..

Jan 20 (AD) A Buddhist monk has died in Hungama after being accidentally shot at by the Police. Reportedly, the Police had got into a scuffle with a motorcyclist who did not heed a signal to stop the vehicle in Hathagala, Hungama. However, a police gunshot that had been fired during the scuffle had accidentally hit a Buddhist monk on a van parked near the motorcycle, according to our correspondent. The body of the monk is currently kept at the Angunakolapelessa Hospital. more..

Jan 20 (FT) Contrary to speculations, the European Union (EU) has reassured that it will continue the GSP+ concessions to Sri Lanka till 2023, while noting that there will be no changes in the rigorous monitoring of the country�s progress in implementing the conventions. This support was conveyed by the EU Mission to Sri Lanka and Head of Political, Trade and Communications Thorsten Bargfrede when more..

Jan 20 (DN) The Govt would relook at reopening the Mattala International Airport (MRIA) for both local and international air traffic, Board Member of Airport and Aviation, Tilak Weerasinghe said. He said that although the Airport was abandoned by the previous govt, infrastructure that was built is world class and is still in good condition. �Due to the non use of the Airport, the outskirts of the Airport were overgrown with weeds and now they are being cleared.� Weerasinghe, a successful entrepreneur more..

Jan 20 (CT) The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), yesterday (19), recorded a statement for five hours from present Embilipitiya High Court Judge, Gihan Pilapitiya, who engaged in a telephone conversation with former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake about affairs of the judiciary. Police sources said that the statement was recorded from Judge Gihan Pilapitiya based on an Order issued by Attorney General Dappula De Livera. Among controversial telephone recordings of Ramanayake, more..

Jan 20 (NI) Veteran Sunday Island columnist, C.A. Chandraprema, has been appointed as SL�s Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva, within which is located the UNHRC. At the UNHRC, Chandraprema will be expected to take up the cudgels on behalf of the govt of SL against SL baiters from Western Europe and the Tamil Diaspora. Chandraprema can be counted on to deliver the goods as he has been writing more..

Jan 20 (DM) Within two months of winning the prez election, the Rajapaksa Govt is firmly on the path of entrenching its position in parliament with the upcoming polls. The UNP�s infighting is continuing and the Opposition forces are unable to forge a much-needed coalition. Rajapaksa juggernaut is inching towards a Govt with two thirds majority in parliament needed for constitutional changes to consolidate authoritarian power. Even as the Rajapaksa regime races forward with more..

Jan 20 (DM) Recently, the media has been airing the Ranjan tapes, collection of audio & visual recordings which outline the disintegration of respected institutions of justice and containing converstion bordering on the obscene and vulgar. To add spice to the depths of degradation to which our society has sunk, Lankans were regaled with tit bits of conversation where persons of supposed standing, passed on confidential files and or begging for promotions from a politician of low standing. more..

Jan 20 (TM) Ministry of Tourism and Aviation has extended the deadline provided to the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to agree to bring down the bidding price for the construction of the second terminal of the BIA. The timeline, as reported by The Sunday Morning Business on 12 Jan, was to expire last Wednesday (15), but has now been extended considering the ongoing negotiations. more..

Jan 20 (ST) Amid dire warnings by plantation companies that the proposed Rs. 1000 wage hike for estate workers would see the collapse of the tea industry, Govt insists that the hike must be given as decided. Industry sources said that the proposed hike would send wage bills skyrocketing to Rs. 6 billion, excluding incentives such as EPF, ETF and gratuity. Employers made their views on the matter known at a meeting more..

Jan 20 (FT) The Inland Revenue Department has succeeded in collecting Rs. 785 billion in 2019, missing marginally the target of Rs. 799 billion in an economically challenging year. The 2019 achievement versus original target reflects a shortfall of Rs. 14 billion. The economy in 2019 is estimated to have grown by only 2.6%, one of the lowest rates in recent years. The provisional collection figure was revealed to the media more..

Jan 20 (RN) So who�s afraid of Ranjan Ramanayake? We all should be. Let me explain. Recordings of Ramanayake�s phone conversations with people ranging from starlets, politicians and models to the CID Director and a couple of judges are now being released selectively by unknown bodies who have got their hands on them. What this has done on one hand is to perturb Colombo�s high society, with many wondering more..

Jan 20 (SO) The rise in the number of dengue patients in the country, especially during the past two months of 2019 is due mainly to the previously latent serotype 3 (DENV3) becoming active and to the changing weather patterns bringing intermittent rain from August, Dr. Anura Jayasekera, Director, National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU), said. Dengue fever (DF) and the more severe Dengue Haemorrhagic fever (DHF), is caused by more..

Jan 20 (EN) A debt moratorium for Sri Lanka�s small and medium enterprises is credit negative for banks and the sovereign, and may not boost economic growth, Moody�s a rating agency has warned. �The debt moratorium is credit negative for Sri Lankan banks and the sovereign because it risks increasing SMEs� risk appetite and relaxing their attitude toward debt repayments, � the rating agency said in a research note. more..

Jan 20 (RN) The recent unannounced visit by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the BIA and directing improvements to the service level has triggered the industry to come forward with new suggestions. Industry experts said that at present the BIA has 57 check-in counters and to ease congestion and given space constraints at the terminal, Govt could look at converting a section of the Lotus Tower retail area into more..

Jan 20 (SO) The former Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya who has been implicated by the Ranjan Tapes says that despite death threats against his family he did not let UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake influence the court proceedings. In a written complaint to the Acting IGP the Chief Magistrate said he complained to the Judicial Services Commission and the then IGP K.Illangakoon in 2015 of the death threats more..

Jan 20 (CT) Attorney General Dappula de Livera has informed the Supreme Court today, that he will not be representing former President Maithripala Sirisena and former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. They have been cited as the respondents in the 12 Fundamental Rights petitions filed in relation to the Easter Sunday attacks, alongside IGP Pujith Jayasundara and Former Secretary of Defence Hemasiri Fernando. more..

Jan 20 (DM) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had informed the UNF leaders that he is willing to be the catalyst of binding all UNPers together. A statement from the Speaker�s office said Mr Jayasuriya informed this to Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and other leaders of the UNP when they met him over the weekend. UNF leaders met Speaker from time to time during the evening. more..

Jan 20 (CT) Judicial Service Commission (JSC) interdicting Baddegama Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala for his alleged telephone conversation with Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake and Attorney General directing CCD to record statements from the judges who were allegedly involved in the taped conversations with MP Ranjan Ramanayake have highlighted to what extent the judicial system in the country has been ridiculed by high-handed manipulations. more..

Jan 20 (FT) Sri Lanka�s merchandise exports have been limping from around 2011. Exports which amounted to $ 10.6 billion in 2011 have changed at a very slow rate since then. During 2011-18, the average annual merchandise exports amounted to $ 10.75. During the first 11 months of 2019, exports had grown by 1.7% to $ 10.7 billion. A prorated estimate will reveal that Sri Lanka could reach an export level of $ 11.7 billion in 2019. However, due to the high export performance in Dec 2018, more..

Jan 20 (EN) Cinnamon Bentota Beach, a historically important 1967 hotel designed by Geoffrey Bawa who inspired an architectural style known as tropical modernism, has re-opened after restoration, the hotel group said. �Bawa was able to create an experience that was completely rooted in place and time using the art skills and crafts available to deliver an experience that was unique to Sri Lanka,� Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts said. �Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts decided to restore and more..

Jan 20 (PMD) Four new ambassadors along with a new High Commissioner concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka presented their credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President�s House in Colombo today. The ambassadors of the State of Qatar and Republic of Turkey as well as the Pakistan High Commissioner will be based in Colombo. The ambassadors to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and Slovenia will be based in New Delhi. After the presentation ceremony, more..

Jan 20 (AD) Colombo Magistrate�s Court Parliamentarian Keheliya Rambukwella and the former Director-General of State Printing Corporation Jayampathi Heenkenda have been released from the case filed against them by the Bribery Commission. On Dec 20, 2019, the Colombo High Court closed the bribery case against the duo citing the relevant case was filed without the consent of the Commissioners of Bribery Commission. more..

Jan 20 (NR) Court of Appeal Judge AHMD Nawaz has been sworn in as the Acting Chairman of the Court of Appeal. Nawaz was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this evening. Yasantha Kodagoda previously served as the Chairman of the Court of Appeal. Kodagoda has been recommended to the Constitutional Council by President Rajapaksa as a Supreme Court Judge to fill the vacant position following the demise of Judge Prasanna Jayawardene. more..

Jan 20 (Island) The Galle District office of the Election Commission has paid only Rs. 700,000 out of Rs. 9,700,000 it owes the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for supplying electricity to the counting centres and other offices during the Nov 2019 Presidential Election. CEB Southern Regional Deputy General Manager S. S. Kahanda said that they had sent a number of reminders to the Galle District office of the Election Commission. However the bill had not yet been settled. more..

Jan 20 (RN) This is the tale of the little food shop on the beach that got hit because of events beyond the control of is owner and her customers. The little eatery is run by Hussanar Mainmunachchi Umma on Saukadi beach in Batticoloa where she cooks food for the hungry fishermen returning from a night�s fishing in the sea. Hussanar is a Muslim, most of the fishermen are Tamil. Woman is a widow in her late fifties, more..

Jan 20 (AD) Eight students have been injured after the roof of a tuition class in Amabalangoda collapses in, stated Ada Derana reporter. Reportedly, the incident had occurred at around 2.30 pm this afternoon (20). The injured students have been admitted to Balapitiya Base Hospital for treatment. However, their condition is not critical, according to hospital sources. Ambalangoda Police is conducting further investigations into the incident. more..